The return from Rome was not a victory—it was a warning.
The Vanguard met in silence, their command center dim and worn from too many emergencies.
Lucien slammed a gauntlet down on the table. "We can't keep chasing him. He's always a step ahead."
Kai stood apart, still haunted by the vision. "Because he's writing the steps."
Nyx spoke calmly. "The Rift Throne he's building… it's not symbolic. If he activates it with the right Cores, the system will recognize him as Architect. He'll gain root access to reality."
Mina paced. "Then we destroy the Throne."
Lucien shook his head. "If we do that without understanding it, we might collapse the whole grid. We need intel, not brute force."
The team splintered—Lucien favoring caution, Mina desperate for a strike, Kai caught in between.
> [System Update: Vanguard Cohesion Level – LOW]
[Side Quest Unlocked: Rally Allies or Go Rogue]